Nadal feels very close to be dethroned by Djokovic

The Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, feels he might be close to lose the second place he has hold for almost three years in the ATP world ranking, according to what he said to reporters last Monday in Germany as he arrived to the Hamburg Masters.

Last week Nadal was defeated by Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of the Rome Masters when he was suffering for a badly blistered foot. This was the first time Nadal lost at the Foro Italico, where he took the Rome title the previous three years, and only his second lose in 105 games on clay-court, being the first one at the Final of the 2007 Hamburg Masters against world No.1 Roger Federer.

On the other hand, world No. 3 Serb Novak Djokovic, who claims to be playing the best tennis of his life, managed to win his 4th Masters Series title defeating the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka at the Roma Masters final. This win took him just 310 points away from Rafa Nadal.

The Serbian has had a good year; he reached the Australian Open 2008 final by defeating the top seed and defending champion Roger Federer with straight sets in the semifinals, becoming the first person in four years to beat Federer in straight sets during a Grand Slam tournament, and then he reached his first Grand Slam title winning over the Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the final. Djokovic also won the 2008 Pacific Life Open defeating American Mardy Fish last March 23rd.

''Djokovic is very close, there's no doubt about that," Nadal said. "I think, no I'm certain, that the logical thing is that he goes past me here, gets to number two here or at Roland Garros or in Wimbledon"

Since April 20, a day before the Masters Series of Monte Carlo started, Rafa Nadal complained about the clay-court calendar, fearing that the calendar congestion could hamper his preparations to reach a fourth straight title at
Rolland Garros. "(The) calendar is completely crazy," Nadal said then. "I think this is not fair for the European players and for the clay players, too. Three Masters (series) in four weeks, it is too much."

Now, after playing and winning in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, he failed in Rome and is entering Hamburg less positive than usual and seems to doubt his own strength to face this tournament and the upcoming French Open that will start next Monday, May 26th.

Currently, at the Hamburg Masters, Novak Djokovic has reached the semifinals after defeating the Spaniard Albert Montañes and now is waiting to face the winner between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya. If Nadal loses to Moya later today or lose tomorrow to Djokovic at the semifinals, his fear of losing his No.2 Rank would come true this weekend.

About the Author:

Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking writer on sports in the sports betting industry. You can also find more of her work at Instant Action Sports UK. Feel free to reprint this article in its whole on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.